Home / Le Mans 24 / Seasons / 1981 / 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours

1981 Le Mans 24 Hours in Le Mans 24 Hours at the Le Mans circuit. Full information

1981 Le Mans 24 Hours

1981 Le Mans 24 Hours is 49th Le Mans 24 Hours race. Passed at the Le Mans circuit. Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell won the pole position and this race. Jacky Haran, Philippe Streiff and François Migault, Gordon Spice also climbed to the podium, in second and third place. Race distance 355 laps (4,825 km).

Previous race: 1980 Le Mans 24 Hours
Next race: 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours
Race Start: 14th June 1981

Interesting facts and statistics about the 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours

1st victory for the Porsche System team
5th victory for the Jacky Ickx
2nd victory for the Derek Bell
7th podium for the Jacky Ickx
2nd podium for the Derek Bell
1st podium for the Jacky Haran
1st podium for the Philippe Streiff
3rd podium for the François Migault
2nd podium for the Gordon Spice

1981 Le Mans 24 Hours

Porsche 936 /81 #11 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: S+2.0)

McLaren M12 GT - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

McLaren M12 GT #90 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: IMSA GTP)

Mazda RX-7 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Mazda RX-7 #39 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: IMSA GTU)

WM P81 #83 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: C)

ACR 80B #22 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: S3.0)

Rondeau M379 C - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Rondeau M379 C #8 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: GTP3.0)

Porsche 935 K3 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Porsche 935 K3 #55 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: Gr.5)

Ferrari 512 BB /LM - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Ferrari 512 BB /LM #47 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: IMSA GTX)

Porsche 944 LM - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Porsche 944 LM #1 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: GTP+3.0)

Porsche 924 Carrera GTR - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Porsche 924 Carrera GTR #36 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: IMSA GTO)

Porsche 934 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Porsche 934 #70 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: GT)

Lola T298 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Lola T298 #31 - 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: S2.0)

1981 Le Mans 24 Hours results

Position	Name	Car	Result	Lap	Team	Class	Class position
1	Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell	Porsche 936 /81, #11	4825.348 kms	355	Porsche System	S+2.0	1
2	Jacky Haran, Philippe Streiff	Rondeau M379 C, #8	4639.323 kms	341	Jean Rondeau	GTP3.0	1
3	François Migault, Gordon Spice	Rondeau M379 C, #7	4571.205 kms	336	Jean Rondeau	GTP3.0	2
4	John Cooper, Dudley Wood, Claude Bourgoignie	Porsche 935 K3, #55	4507.520 kms	331	Claude Bourgoignie	Gr.5	1
5	Jean-Claude Andruet, Claude Ballot-Lena	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #47	4469.433 kms	329	Charles Pozzi S.A.	IMSA GTX	1
6	Anny-Charlotte Verney, Bob Garretson	Porsche 935 K3/80, #42	4466.362 kms	328	Cooke-Woods Racing	IMSA GTX	2
7	Jürgen Barth, Walter Rohrl	Porsche 944 LM, #1	4404.594 kms	324	Porsche System	GTP+3.0	1
8	Eddie Cheever, Michele Alboreto, Carlo Facetti	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #65	4391.680 kms	323	Martini Racing	Gr.5	2
9	Pierre Dieudonne, Jean-Paul Libert, Jean Xhenceval	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #46	4370.941 kms	321	Rennod Racing	IMSA GTX	3
10	Dieter Schornstein, Götz von Tschirnhaus	Porsche 935 J, #60	4370.685 kms	321	Vegla Racing Team	Gr.5	3
11	Manfred Schurti, Andy Rouse	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #36	4302.958 kms	316	Porsche System	IMSA GTO	1
12	Jochen Mass, Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood	Porsche 936 /81, #12	4253.357 kms	313	Porsche System	S+2.0	2
13	Denis Morin, Charles Mendez, Xavier Mathiot	WM P79 /80, #4	4185.206 kms	308	W.M. Aerem	GTP+3.0	2
14	Martino Finotto, Giorgio Schön, Giorgio Pianta	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #68	3923.650 kms	293	Jolly Club	Gr.5	4
15	Emilio De Villota, Guy Edwards, Juan Fernandez	Lola T600, #18	3923.650 kms	288	Team Lola	S+2.0	3
16	Bernard Darniche, Johnny Cecotto, Philippe Alliot	BMW M1 Gr.5, #51	3785.240 kms	278	B.M.W. Italie-France (I/F)	Gr.5	5
17	Valentin Bertapelle, Thierry Perrier, Bernard Salam	Porsche 934, #70	3737.439 kms	275	Thierry Perrier	GT	1
18	Jean-Philippe Grand, Yves Courage	Lola T298, #31	3714.743 kms	273	Jean-Philippe Grand	S2.0	1
DNF	Paul Miller, Craig Siebert, Bob Akin	Porsche 935 K3/80, #43	Short-circuit	320	Bob Akin Motor Racing	IMSA GTX	4
DNF	Claude Haldi, Hervé Poulain, Mark Thatcher	Porsche 935 /77A, #57	Accident	260	Claude Haldi	Gr.5	6
DNF	Alain Cudini, Philippe Gurdjian, John Morton	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #49	Accident	247	N.A.R.T.	IMSA GTX	5
DNF	David Hobbs, Eddie Jordan, Steve O'Rourke	BMW M1 Gr.5, #53	Engine	236	Emka Productions Ltd.	Gr.5	7
DNF	Pierre-François Rousselot, Francois Servanin, Laurent Ferrier	BMW M1, #72	Valve, clutch, gearbox	212	B.M.W. Zol-Auto	GT	2
DNF	Alain De Cadenet, Jean-Michel Martin, Philippe Martin	De Cadenet Lola LM, #20	Engine	210	Alain de Cadenet (GB/B)	S+2.0	4
DNF	Dieter Quester, Marc Surer, David Deacon	BMW M1 Gr.5, #52	Engine	207	Wuerth-Lubrifilm Team Sauber	Gr.5	8
DNC	Pierre Yver, Jacques Heuclin, Michel Dubois	Lola T298, #33	2774.474 kms	204	Compagnie Primagaz	S2.0	2
DNC	Louis Descartes, Herve Bayard	Renard Delmas D1, #32	2559.611 kms	188	Ecurie Renard-Delmas	S2.0	3
DNF	Riccardo Patrese, Hans Heyer, Piercarlo Ghinzani	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #66	Cylinder head	186	Martini Racing	Gr.5	9
DNF	Vivian Candy, Martin Birrane, Nick Faure	De Cadenet Lola T380, #21	Gearbox casing	171	Dorset Racing Associates	S+2.0	5
DNF	Chris Craft, Bob Evans	Dome Zero RL 81, #23	Valves	154	Dome Co Ltd.	S+2.0	6
DNF	Mauricio DeNarvaez, Kenper Miller, Günter Steckkönig	Porsche 935 J, #40	Fire	152	Joest Racing	IMSA GTX	6
DNF	Steve Earle, Mike Salmon, Simon Phillips	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #48	Chassis	140	Simon Phillips	IMSA GTX	7
DNF	Fabrizio Violati, Duilio Truffo, Maurizio Flammini	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #45	Electrics	118	Scuderia Supercar Bellancauto	IMSA GTX	8
DNF	Patrick Gaillard, Andre Chevalley, Bruno Sotty	ACR 80B, #22	Clutch	114	André Chevalley Racing	S3.0	1
DNF	Pete Lovett, Tom Walkinshaw, Tetsu Ikuzawa	Mazda RX-7 253i, #37	Engine	107	Mazdaspeed	IMSA GTO	2
DNF	Max Cohen-Olivar, Jean-Marie Lemerle, Alain Levié	Lola T298, #30	Electrics	104	Jean-Marie Lemerle	S2.0	4
DNF	Tony Trimmer, Tiff Needell	Ibec P6, #27	Head gasket	95	Ian Bracey	S+2.0	7
DNF	Bob Wollek, Xavier Lapeyre, Guy Chasseuil	Porsche 917 K/81, #10	Engine mount	82	Kremer Racing	S+2.0	8
DNF	Reinhold Jöst, Klaus Niedzwiedz, Dale Whittington	Porsche 908/80, #14	Accident	60	Joest Racing	S+2.0	9
DNF	Jean Rondeau, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	Rondeau M379 C, #24	Handling	58	Jean Rondeau	S+2.0	10
DNF	Ted Field, Bill Whittington, Don Whittington	Porsche 935 K3/81, #59	Engine	57	Porsche Kremer Racing	Gr.5	10
DNF	Jean-Pierre Jarier, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Helmut Henzler	BMW M1 Gr.5, #50	Accident damage	57	BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport	IMSA GTX	9
DNF	Max Mamers, Jean-Daniel Raulet, Michel Pignard	WM P81, #83	Accident	50	W.M. Aerem	C	1
DNF	Christian Danner, Leopold von Bayern, Peter Oberndorfer	BMW M1, #71	Crankshaft damper	49	Helmut Marko	GT	3
DNF	Jan Lundgardh, Mike Wilds, Axel Plankenhorn	Porsche 935 L1, #69	Engine	49	Tuff-Kote Dinol Racing	Gr.5	11
DNF	Edgar Dören, Gerhard Holup, Jürgen Lässig	Porsche 935 K3, #61	Out of fuel	48	Weralit Team	Gr.5	12
DNF	Emanuele Pirro	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #67	Accident	47	Martini Racing	Gr.5	13
DNF	Guy Fréquelin, Roger Dorchy	WM P79 /80, #5	Engine, fire	46	W.M. Aerem	GTP+3.0	3
DNF	Preston Henn, Michael Chandler, Marcel Mignot	Porsche 935 K3/80, #41	Crankshaft pulley	45	Preston B. Henn	IMSA GTX	10
DNF	Henri Pescarolo, Patrick Tambay	Rondeau M379 C, #26	Fuel pump	41	Jean Rondeau	S+2.0	11
DNF	Jacques Alméras, Jean-Marie Alméras	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #73	Engine => gearbox	30	Eminence Racing Team	GT	4
DNF	Jean Ragnotti, Jean-Louis Lafosse	Rondeau M379 C, #25	Fatal accident	28	Jean Rondeau	S+2.0	12
DNF	Win Percy, Hiroshi Fushida	Mazda RX-7 253i, #38	Rear axle	25	Mazdaspeed	IMSA GTO	3
DNF	Thierry Boutsen, Michel Pignard, Serge Saulnier	WM P81, #82	Accident	15	W.M. Aerem	C	2
DNF	Cale Yarborough, Bill Cooper, Billy Hagan	Chevrolet Camaro, #35	Accident	13	Stratagraph Inc.	IMSA GTO	4
DNQ	Jacques Guérin, "Segolen", Christian Bussi	Porsche 935, #62	Did not qualify	0	"Ségolen"	Gr.5	14
DNQ	Michel Lateste, Patrick Perrier	Ardex S80, #16	Did not qualify	0	Max Sardou	S+2.0	13
DNQ	Bobby Rahal, Brian Redman	Lola T600, #17	Did not qualify	0	Cooke-Woods Racing	S+2.0	14
DNQ	Tony Dron, Richard Lloyd	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #75	Reserve	0	Porsche System Canon	GT	5
DNQ	Dirk Vermeersch, Fred Stiff, Ray Ratcliff	Mazda RX-7, #39	Reserve	0	Z. & W. Enterprises Inc.	IMSA GTU	1
DNQ	Colin Bond, Peter Brock, Jim Richards	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #74	Reserve	0	Porsche Cars Australia	GT	6
DNQ	Herve Regout, Michel Elkoubi	McLaren M12 GT, #90	Did not qualify	0	Z. & W. Enterprises Inc.	IMSA GTP	1

Qualifying Results for the 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours on the Le Mans circuit

Position	Name	Car	Result	Team
1	Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell	Porsche 936 /81, #11	3:29.440	Porsche System
2	Jochen Mass, Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood	Porsche 936 /81, #12	3:32.610	Porsche System
3	Reinhold Jöst, Klaus Niedzwiedz, Dale Whittington	Porsche 908/80, #14	3:34.510	Joest Racing
4	Henri Pescarolo, Patrick Tambay	Rondeau M379 C, #26	3:35.160	Jean Rondeau
5	Jean Rondeau, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	Rondeau M379 C, #24	3:36.170	Jean Rondeau
6	Ted Field, Bill Whittington, Don Whittington	Porsche 935 K3/81, #59	3:36.540	Porsche Kremer Racing
7	Dieter Schornstein, Götz von Tschirnhaus	Porsche 935 J, #60	3:37.150	Vegla Racing Team
8	Thierry Boutsen, Michel Pignard, Serge Saulnier	WM P81, #82	3:37.890	W.M. Aerem
9	Guy Fréquelin, Roger Dorchy	WM P79 /80, #5	3:39.740	W.M. Aerem
10	Jean Ragnotti, Jean-Louis Lafosse	Rondeau M379 C, #25	3:40.320	Jean Rondeau
11	Max Mamers, Jean-Daniel Raulet, Michel Pignard	WM P81, #83	3:40.800	W.M. Aerem
12	Emilio De Villota, Guy Edwards, Juan Fernandez	Lola T600, #18	3:42.400	Team Lola
13	Edgar Dören, Gerhard Holup, Jürgen Lässig	Porsche 935 K3, #61	3:42.660	Weralit Team
14	Patrick Gaillard, Andre Chevalley, Bruno Sotty	ACR 80B, #22	3:43.430	André Chevalley Racing
15	François Migault, Gordon Spice	Rondeau M379 C, #7	3:43.990	Jean Rondeau
16	Denis Morin, Charles Mendez, Xavier Mathiot	WM P79 /80, #4	3:44.140	W.M. Aerem
17	Preston Henn, Michael Chandler, Marcel Mignot	Porsche 935 K3/80, #41	3:46.220	Preston B. Henn
18	Bob Wollek, Xavier Lapeyre, Guy Chasseuil	Porsche 917 K/81, #10	3:46.540	Kremer Racing
19	Alain De Cadenet, Jean-Michel Martin, Philippe Martin	De Cadenet Lola LM, #20	3:46.690	Alain de Cadenet (GB/B)
20	Chris Craft, Bob Evans	Dome Zero RL 81, #23	3:47.430	Dome Co Ltd.
21	Jean-Pierre Jarier, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Helmut Henzler	BMW M1 Gr.5, #50	3:47.630	BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport
22	Dieter Quester, Marc Surer, David Deacon	BMW M1 Gr.5, #52	3:47.900	Wuerth-Lubrifilm Team Sauber
23	John Cooper, Dudley Wood, Claude Bourgoignie	Porsche 935 K3, #55	3:48.020	Claude Bourgoignie
24	Riccardo Patrese, Hans Heyer, Piercarlo Ghinzani	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #66	3:48.140	Martini Racing
25	Mauricio DeNarvaez, Kenper Miller, Günter Steckkönig	Porsche 935 J, #40	3:48.200	Joest Racing
26	Vivian Candy, Martin Birrane, Nick Faure	De Cadenet Lola T380, #21	3:48.900	Dorset Racing Associates
27	Tony Trimmer, Tiff Needell	Ibec P6, #27	3:49.940	Ian Bracey
28	Jacky Haran, Philippe Streiff	Rondeau M379 C, #8	3:50.610	Jean Rondeau
29	Alain Cudini, Philippe Gurdjian, John Morton	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #49	3:52.600	N.A.R.T.
30	Paul Miller, Craig Siebert, Bob Akin	Porsche 935 K3/80, #43	3:52.610	Bob Akin Motor Racing
31	Eddie Cheever, Michele Alboreto, Carlo Facetti	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #65	3:54.090	Martini Racing
32	Claude Haldi, Hervé Poulain, Mark Thatcher	Porsche 935 /77A, #57	3:54.320	Claude Haldi
33	Anny-Charlotte Verney, Bob Garretson	Porsche 935 K3/80, #42	3:55.150	Cooke-Woods Racing
34	Fabrizio Violati, Duilio Truffo, Maurizio Flammini	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #45	3:55.660	Scuderia Supercar Bellancauto
35	Bernard Darniche, Johnny Cecotto, Philippe Alliot	BMW M1 Gr.5, #51	3:55.680	B.M.W. Italie-France (I/F)
36	Pierre Dieudonne, Jean-Paul Libert, Jean Xhenceval	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #46	3:56.720	Rennod Racing
37	Jean-Claude Andruet, Claude Ballot-Lena	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #47	3:56.890	Charles Pozzi S.A.
38	David Hobbs, Eddie Jordan, Steve O'Rourke	BMW M1 Gr.5, #53	3:56.990	Emka Productions Ltd.
39	Cale Yarborough, Bill Cooper, Billy Hagan	Chevrolet Camaro, #35	3:59.570	Stratagraph Inc.
40	Steve Earle, Mike Salmon, Simon Phillips	Ferrari 512 BB /LM, #48	3:59.980	Simon Phillips
41	Christian Danner, Leopold von Bayern, Peter Oberndorfer	BMW M1, #71	4:00.140	Helmut Marko
42	Jean-Philippe Grand, Yves Courage	Lola T298, #31	4:00.420	Jean-Philippe Grand
43	Jürgen Barth, Walter Rohrl	Porsche 944 LM, #1	4:01.030	Porsche System
44	Emanuele Pirro	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #67	4:02.220	Martini Racing
45	Pierre Yver, Jacques Heuclin, Michel Dubois	Lola T298, #33	4:02.810	Compagnie Primagaz
46	Max Cohen-Olivar, Jean-Marie Lemerle, Alain Levié	Lola T298, #30	4:03.080	Jean-Marie Lemerle
47	Pierre-François Rousselot, Francois Servanin, Laurent Ferrier	BMW M1, #72	4:03.760	B.M.W. Zol-Auto
48	Manfred Schurti, Andy Rouse	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #36	4:04.090	Porsche System
49	Win Percy, Hiroshi Fushida	Mazda RX-7 253i, #38	4:04.790	Mazdaspeed
50	Jan Lundgardh, Mike Wilds, Axel Plankenhorn	Porsche 935 L1, #69	4:06.920	Tuff-Kote Dinol Racing
51	Pete Lovett, Tom Walkinshaw, Tetsu Ikuzawa	Mazda RX-7 253i, #37	4:07.180	Mazdaspeed
52	Valentin Bertapelle, Thierry Perrier, Bernard Salam	Porsche 934, #70	4:08.860	Thierry Perrier
53	Martino Finotto, Giorgio Schön, Giorgio Pianta	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, #68	4:09.010	Jolly Club
54	Louis Descartes, Herve Bayard	Renard Delmas D1, #32	4:15.570	Ecurie Renard-Delmas
55	Jacques Alméras, Jean-Marie Alméras	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #73	4:19.910	Eminence Racing Team
56	Tony Dron, Richard Lloyd	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #75	4:20.010	Porsche System Canon
57	Dirk Vermeersch, Fred Stiff, Ray Ratcliff	Mazda RX-7, #39	4:21.970	Z. & W. Enterprises Inc.
58	Colin Bond, Peter Brock, Jim Richards	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, #74	4:24.950	Porsche Cars Australia
59	Jacques Guérin, "Segolen", Christian Bussi	Porsche 935, #62	4:03.890	"Ségolen"
60	Michel Lateste, Patrick Perrier	Ardex S80, #16	4:05.020	Max Sardou
61	Bobby Rahal, Brian Redman	Lola T600, #17	4:18.300	Cooke-Woods Racing
62	Herve Regout, Michel Elkoubi	McLaren M12 GT, #90	5:13.060	Z. & W. Enterprises Inc.